Chamber of commerce Business West has appointed three new board members using a programme that helps organisations improve diversity.
Ade Adebayo, Martin Shelford and Poku Osei were recruited as non-executive directors to the chamber by BeOnBoard - a scheme that identifies emerging leaders from diverse backgrounds in terms of ethnicity and gender.
According to Phil Smith, managing director of Business West, the organisation has historically chosen non-executive directors from its "usual range" of contacts - but was determined to avoid this "echo chamber".
"The world is changing dramatically and our board is very conscious that to remain credible and effective, Business West needs to know what’s going on in all parts of our business community," he said.
"We manage to reach out, through many great projects, deep into our communities, but sometimes struggle to truly interpret and/or act on the messages we are getting. Too often we end up prioritising what we already know and care about."
He added: "Recruiting in your own image is a very difficult instinct to break. However, whilst all seven shortlisted were outstanding, three, we felt, really suited our board’s current needs.
"We ended up making offers to three candidates, as we thought each brought something extra that our current board doesn’t possess."
Who are the candidates?
Ade Adebayo
Mr Adebayo is an audit senior manager at Nationwide who also serves as an independent member of the audit committee of Bristol City Council. He is also a mentor with a local Bristol charity that supports ex-offenders in reintegrating effectively into society.
He said: “I'm delighted to be joining the Business West board at such an interesting time. I am very proud to be part of an organisation that is helping make the region the best place in the UK to live, learn and work.”
Martin Shelford
Mr Shelford is the co-owner of Rocko - a consultancy working with tech SMEs - and has experience within retail, supply chain and technology.
"Given we're navigating significant economic, political and technological change at the moment, and will be for the years and decades to come, I'm looking forward to doing my bit to help the West become a leading region in diversity, opportunity and innovation," he said.
Poku Osei
Mr Osei is an entrepreneur with experience across many sectors in Bristol and the South West at board and consultancy level. He is the founder and chief executive of Babbasa, which supports underrepresented young people in the UK, and has received numerous awards for the work he has done for communities, diversity and inclusion.
